well South Africa's famous kimchi is falling victim to climate change climate change is threatening the plantation of Napa cabbage that is used to make South Korea signature dish a next report telling you more the spicy Tangi dish called kimchi a foundation of Korean food culture is succumbing to climate change in its Homeland South Korean scientists farmers and manufacturers say they a decline in the quality and quantity of its main ingredient the Napa cabbage Kim seup has grown kimchi cabbage for more than half a century and has seen dramatic changes that he blames at least in part on climate change I can feel that a climate crisis is approaching there are many signs but to give a representative example take mayong son mountain in tbec County which can be considered the origin of Highland cabbage in our country however the cultivation area there has fallen by half because of soil diseases and viruses that thrive in high temperatures napa cabbage drives in cool climates ideally between 64 to 70° F but in gangan Province when nearly all of it is grown in the country summer temperatures are now closer to an average of 77° with peaks of 86 government data shows high temperatures and erratic weather have eaten away at at Napa cabbage farming areas by more than half since the 2000s and the rural development administration's climate change scenarios project this area will shrink to only around 100 acres in 25 years with none in the highlands by 2090 production costs have definitely increased due to climate related difficulties since crops are often affected by various diseases and pests we have to continuously apply substances that are somewhat effective against them we need to keep spraying them researchers are taking action to push back on the impact by developing heat and disease resistant varieties of Napa cabbage blond pathologist Leong guu is at the National Institute of crop science we are also looking into watering methods that could help lower temperatures and as I mentioned earlier expanding the use of biological control methods to combat the newly emerging half wilt disease additionally since Highland areas are typically sloped we are researching cultivation techniques that allow for stable farming on slopes given the rising temperatures we are also working on developing cabbage varieties that can grow well even in higher temperatures it all adds to the challenges for South Korea's homegrown kimchi industry which also faces competition from lower priced imports from China mostly used in restaurants the kimchi that South Korea brings in from overseas Rose from January to July this year hitting some $98 million up around 7% from last year and surpassing the 2022 record [Music]